There were Boats enough to help us had custom permitted it but in like accidents the Moors help no Body not their near Kindred or intimate Friends Yet by good hap there was a lusty well-shaped Woman who seeing five Hollanders upon the point of drowning rowed up to them and maugre two Men that withstood her received them into her Boat The River Ganges is of very unequal breadth being in some places a League in others a League and an half wide so that when the Wind is high this River abounds with Waves and Billows no ways inferiour to those of the Sea There were lost by this accident four Dutch-men and twenty four Moors and I had ran the same Fate had not I after four hours swimming towards the Land met with a Vessel Commanded by English-men As soon as I made my self known to them they sent forth above sixty Men to my assistance who took me into their Boat where they gave me what was necessary In fine they carried me on Board their Vessel where I found one of my Countrey-men on whom the English had shew'd the same compassion The next Morning we thankt our Benefactors and went to the Army where we sought an occasion of admittance to the General The loss of his Vessel was but bad news to carry him yet we could not but make it known to him for we knew not where to bestow our selves As soon as he heard it he fell into such a Fit of passion that we believed we should be both hanged or worse At length he commanded us to withdraw and choose what Vessel we had a mind to the Enemy's Fleet being expected every moment We were heartily glad we came off so well four of our Companions went on board a Gourape and two others and my self chose a Bark that carried six pieces of Cannon Two days after our Admiral set Sail in search of the Enemy attended by the whole Fleet. We immediately heard a continual roaring of Guns whence we inserred the Land Army was engaged but as to our parts we could not so soon joyn the Enemy being as it was thought at a great distance from us When the Admiral had set his Fleet in order the General 's Chirurgion who was of our Nation and a Lover of his Countrey exhorted us to behave our selves answerable to the good opinion they had of our Countrey-men Representing to us that when we come to engage the whole Fleet will take notice of the Christians and especially of us who were greatly esteemed by the Moors That 't was the Companies interest we should keep up our Reputation and that we might have a great share in the glory of that days actions Although the Wind was little favourable to us yet we followed on our course and three or four hours after dasht against a Rock which struck off our Helm At length we recovered it and having fixt it in its right place held on our course Not long after we discovered the Enemy's Fleet consisting of six hundred Sail. Although we were in search of them yet were greatly surprized to see those so near us whom we believed to be farther off As soon as the Enemy perceived us they advanced towards us and we tarried expecting them as well out of necessity as bravery the contrary Wind hindering us from retreating Whilst they made up towards us we sat down at Table which we had no sooner done but a dish of Meat that was set thereon was carried away by a Cannon Bullet which did us no other harm but that of depriving us of our allowance Whereupon we betook our selves to our Guns and from that time till midnight ceased not Firing on our side and were answered in the same manner by the Enemy An hour after the Enemy withdrew there came another Vessel to our assistance which was commanded by a Moorish Prince called Menorcan who had set out thirty Vessels at his own charge for the service of the great Mogol This Prince observing our post to be dangerous assisted us in such a manner that we got the Wind of the Enemy As soon as we had cast Anchor he left us promising to return the next Morning with the whole Fleet. He had not gotten far before we perceived six Sail making towards us Five of which could not surmount the force of the Currents but the sixth came so near as to give us a broad side But as soon as a fair opportunity offered we boarded her quickly became Masters of her So that we took the first prize on the Enemy Having taken out of this Vessel whatever was of any value to avoid farther trouble we set her on fire Half an hour after eight or nine of the Enemy's Vessels made towards us and this number daunted us wherefore we weighed Anchor and sheltered our selves under the Dutch and Portugaise Vessels which made 'em cease pursuing us At day-break we found our Admiral was still a League off of us The whole Fleet of which the Dutch and Portugaise led the Van were in good order and advanced towards the Enemy as fast as the little Wind which then blew would permit ' em As to our parts the Currents were against us wherefore we were forced to be towed by Moors that went on shoar for that purpose In the mean time a Trumpet accompanied with Ten or Twelve Horse coming from the General who believed upon a false report we were lost called out to us several times from the shoar Sauwas Hollanders The word Sauwas signifies Courage Being near they inform'd us how greatly the General was troubled at the false report of a Moor who brought him word that the Vessels commanded by the English Dutch and Portugaise were lost They returned then towards their Master who better informed of the matter caused the tongue of the Moor who brought him that false news to be cut out and he to be whipt with a Whip which they call Chamboe every lash of which cuts as deep as a Razor Notwithstanding the force of the Currents and the great advantages the Enemy had over us we got the Wind of them and from that time never ceased Firing upon em and at length were seconded by our whole Fleet. When the Enemy saw it approaching they set forth such great shouts as wou'd made a Man think all was already lost Yet did they couragiously defend themselves and for three hours together the Victory inclined to neither side From that time their heat abated and they began to shift their station and were so closely plyed that they left their Vessels and ran to shoar where finding they were pursued they endeavoured but in vain to possess themselves of a high Bank for we followed 'em so close that we slew almost all of them being ordered to give no quarter We took three hundred of their Vessels the least of which carried seventy Men and of this whole number there escaped not above fifty whom the King enraged his orders were no better
to those of our own Nation He granted us the full enjoyment of all the booty we could take from the Enemy and fifty Roupies for every Head we brought him and an hundred for each Prisoner In fine he told the Master of our Ship he would send him to the Factory to inform them of the loss of their Vessel and that he might take our Chirurgion with him and our three Boys which were too young to serve in the Army In the mean time the Arak made us so bold that we had like to fall'n together by the Ears for Oranges which were given us because all had not a like share without considering we were in the General 's Tent. He winkt at our rudeness and commanded his Chirurgion to carry us to his Tent and drink there more moderately The next Morning the General sent us three hundred Roupies and assign'd us certain Vessels called Gourapes one of which carried fourteen Guns and about fifty or sixty Men. Each Gourape was attended by four Kosses which are Boats with Oars to tow great Vessels There were also several great Flat-bottom Boats that carried no Mast yet were well furnished with Guns The greatest part of the Officers were Portugaises and the General had so good an opinion of the Christians that if a Moor could speak but a little of that Language he commonly preferred him to some considerable Office There were several other Vessels laden only with Provision and War-like Ammunition We saw likewise several Barges set forth with Streamers wherein were the Wives of Persons of Quality that followed the Army The General had five hundred for his share These Women were kept by Eunuchs made so in their tender years who were in great credit with their Masters As soon as we were ordered to march we sought the Vessel assign'd us but I had the unhappiness to lose my self in that vast multitude of people together with one of my Companions and were eight days before we could know where to betake our selves This small mishap gave me the opportunity of an exact observation of the Army which consisted of near three hundred thousand Horse and five hundred thousand Foot The General rode in the midst of the Cavalry and before him marched several Trumpeters and Kettle-Drummers mounted on Elephants He was followed by twenty of these Animals each of them carrying two small pieces of Cannon two Gunners with as many chargers After these came three or four thousand Moscovites all extraordinarily well mounted Several thousands of Cammels laden with the Baggage were followed by all sorts of Merchants Artisans Curtisans some mounted on Cammels others on Horses 'T was told us that this great Body stood the Mogol in every day above five Millions the greatest part of which were paid by the Curtisans and Merchants that followed the Army Which is no hard matter to believe because I knew in that Countrey the Cities were destitute of all Trade in time of War and therefore the Inhabitants were forced to follow the Army by which means it abounded with all necessaries except strong drinks the use of which was only permitted to the Christians because the Moors in drinking never so small a quantity became cruel and bloody minded After a long march we entred into Kosbia a Country lying between the Kingdoms of Bengala and Azo of which the General easily became Master The King of Azo imagined the Walls of his Capital City were proof against our Cannon and believed himself secure but soon found the contrary for we took his City by assault and made him Prisoner He had an Iron Collar fastned about his Neck whence hung two great Chains which were fixt also to his Legs and in this manner was served by four Pages A while after the King was taken Prisoner the General was shewed several Caves made into rocks wherein was hid his Treasure the rest became the Souldiers booty and we thought all to enrich our selves but were mistaken for besides that these people wear no other Cloathing than a piece of Linnen which reaches from their Waste down to their Knees they had so well hid every thing of value that we could find nothing but a Pot of Rice and a Box full of Tow and some Leaves which they chew continually to cleanse their mouths We were troubled to find our expectations thus frustrated especially considering the smallness of our Wages which were not sufficient to maintain us being no more than ten Crowns a Month and Provision was very dear The reason why we had no more was because we served by constraint whereas the English and Portugaises that went voluntiers received monthly twenty five Crowns a Man Some days after the General required our two Carpenters assistance in the building him a stately Vessel from a model he shewed them Which finished he promised 'em their liberty They accepted the proposal and were sent to Decka where they finished their undertaking to the General 's content who kept his word with them It was demanded of us at the same time whether either of us was willing to accept the Government of the Castle of Agra and for our encouragement there were several advantagious offers made us but they could not prevail with us especially considering we were to live amongst Moors and that such an employ perhaps would so fix us in that Countrey that we should never get out of it The General being a Man of dispatch immediately after the overthrow of the King of Azo hastened towards the Countrys belonging to the King of Assam who was one of the Mogols chiefest Enemies 'T was said that this King having notice of his march derided his discretion wondering that with eight hundred thousand Men only he should undertake that which two Millions of Men could not atchieve In effect it seemed to be a rash Enterprize and that the Example of so prodigious an Army which lately perished in the same Parts where we went should have deterred our General But so far was he from being discouraged by this consideration that the greatness of the danger served only to heighten his courage and lest the Flood which every six Months overflowed the greatest part of this Kingdom should hinder his project he advanced with great expedition and arrived before that time at the place he intended As soon as we were in the Enemies Countrey a general consternation seized upon them and the fame of Nabab's Fortune caused infinite numbers of the Enemy's Subjects to come over to his side as the surest In the mean time the English and we having observed all the signs of an approaching tempest carefully viewed and repaired our Vessels but all our pre-cautions could not hinder its sinking For not being Ballasted the Currents overturned it and that which hastened our loss was the Sottish and Extravagant curiosity of a Marriner that had the management of it This Man to try experiments would needs have all the Sails hoisted up which was no sooner done but our Vessel sunk
observed condemned to suffer the most grievous punishment Those that had still some Life remaining in them were tyed to Stakes where the Soldiers put an end to their Lives with their Arrows Thus perished this numerous and mighty Army of which very few escaped to carry the news of the loss of the rest The Admiral having disguised himself was notwithstanding taken Prisoner and released at the intercession of some of the General 's principal Officers As to the booty 't was not considerable consisting only in Powder Lead and some pieces of Cannon It was discoursed that the fault of this Admiral was the less excusable inasmuch as he had neglected the orders of his Prince who commanded him to go with six hundred Sail to expect us above the City of Goaëti Which was a very advantagious post as well to hinder us from taking in any Provision as to block us up in the Countrey but he chose rather to be guided by his own fancy imagining the shouts of his Fleet would dismay us The three hundred Vessels that escaped unhappily cast Anchor at about a quarter of a Leagues distance from the General who advanced up the Countrey with all possible expedition As soon as he knew where they were he brought two or three hundred pieces of Cannon and planted 'em against them and sunk the greatest part of them the rest past over to the other side of the River where our Vessels pursued them with success Some of 'em wheeled about thro by ways where the Moors found and slew them The Enemy's Fleet being thus routed we passed by the Foot of a steep Rock where was built a Fortress of difficult access Yet was it abandoned but 't was to draw us farther into the Countrey From thence we came to the City of Gueragan whence the King fled and our Admiral cast Anchor before the City of Lokwa situated about six Leagues from thence Some time after the General Commanded the chief of the Fleet to send him Money and Provisions for the Army Whereupon our Commanders sent him six Boats two laden with Gold and four with Silver but the six Boats unfortunately fell into the Enemy's hand who in the heat of the surprisal slew the greatest part of the Men. They reserved some Christians for their pleasure under whose Arms they fastned several wisps of Straw stuft with Powder and when these wisps were consumed they fastned others in like manner in their places till such time as they expired The pleasure of these Barbarians was to hear the screeks of these poor wretches who the louder they cryed the more they rejoyced these cruel Monsters Those that escaped into the Woods came at Night to the Army which was in great distress the Water being already so high that 't was impossible to return back The Army lay Encamped in a place full of fruitful Trees and sowed with excellent Rice The Mountains yield Pepper Agra-wood Sanders and Simples that are sold for their weight in Gold As to this mettal 't is not scarce Elephants are so common that the country as fruitful as 't is is not sufficient to feed them therefore they are always lean We chose in this pleasant Countrey a proper place to Intrench our selves and cut down to prevent surprisals all the Trees round about us We sent out scouts every day to observe the Enemy's motions Those that fell into the hands of our party were cruelly scourged and then had their Heads cut off which were hung up in Baskets upon the boughs of Trees When they were too numerous to be all made Prisoners they cut off the Heads of the greatest part and hung about the Necks of every one of the rest two of these Heads which they were made to carry into the Camp where they were cruelly whipt and when 't was judged they were near expiring they had likewise their Heads severed from their Bodies which were hanged like the rest in Panniers upon the boughs of Trees Some had stakes drove through them alive Others had four double hooks thrust down their Bellies which tore their Bowels and in this condition were carried to the places the Enemy frequented to the end the horrour of the Torment they endured might move them to forsake the weakest side If these punishments were cruel those of the Enemy were no less for they made their Prisoners languish so long in their Torments as would have moved the most obdurate to pity Having made 'em expire by their cruel usage they fastned them standing bolt upright to stakes upon flat-bottom Boats and sent them thus down the River either towards the Army or the Fleet where they became such a sad spectacle that they could not be beheld without dread and horrour As to those that rendred themselves they were received with great expressions of kindness There came likewise to our Camp Ambassadours from the King of the Antropophages or Man-eaters offering the assistance of his Army against the King of Assam's Subjects but the small sincerity of these people being known their offers were not accepted yet were they sent away with assurances of the great Mogol's Friendship provided they assisted not his Enemies These people had fierce looks a rough carriage and the Mine of persons that eat others alive In effect they fed on Human Flesh scrupling to Interr their Dead whom they design'd for a better use Those that are sick amongst them and in a languishing condition are knockt on the Head and eaten and this is all the charity they have one for another They possess all things in Common carrying what they steal from strangers to the Common Heap where they have all an equal portion When we told them their way of living was contrary to the rest of Mankind it being unnatural to eat their fellow Creatures they replyed Opinion and Custom made all these things either good or bad and that a Man cannot do ill in following those he found established There were in our Army certain Soldiers whose Maxim was Never to give back and to dye rather than abandon the Post assigned them Those that dye thus are sure of Salvation whereas those that behaved themselves cowardly and were slain were certainly Damned This opinion renders 'em valiant which is not such a Barbarous one as we are apt to imagine seeing many in the most civilized Nations have asserted it extreamly meritorious to dye for one's Country The General had honoured us with a high Character of our Valour so that the only report of our name stood him in as much stead as an Army Those on the Enemy's side who fled over to us had such a great esteem for us that they made room for us wheresoever we went The Moors shewed us the same respect but those dreadless fellows I now mention'd kept their gravity with us claiming precedency in all rencounters which for quietness sake we granted them Next after the Dutch certain Armenian Horse-men were in greatest esteem as well for that they
best Apparel Money and greatest part of their Servants whom they bury alive to bear their Masters company So far are these poor wretches from bemoaning their condition in this respect that they are on the contrary exceedingly joyous to follow their Masters into a Countrey where they hope in three days time to become great Personages and enjoy certain pleasures which are not to be had here Our General caused several of these Tombs to be opened wherein were found vast Treasures which he carried away with him but which he enjoyed but a small time for he died soon after and according to the custom of the great Mogol's Empire which is that this Prince becomes Heir to all those that dye in his Countreys the Acquests of the General which were to the value of four Millions fell to this Monarch And thus have I given you a Relation of what I saw in this War against the King of Assam all which was written by a Physician of Montpellier who was then in the service of the great Mogol Prince Jemla or the Emir for 't is thus they called our General having signaliz'd himself in several Rencounters and driven out Sultan Sujah Brother to Auren Zeb from the Kingdom of Bengala he entreated the Mogol to send him his Wife and Children to live with them in a place he had chosen remote from noise and business of which his great age rendred him uncapable He imagined that this Prince whose Throne he came now from settling in subduing his Brethren who disturbed him in the possession of the Empire could not well refuse him his demands But he was mistaken for Auren Zeb was of a piercing judgment and knew Jemla to be the Soldiers darling and the Peoples Favourite That he was a great Politician a Wise and Valiant Captain and the wealthiest in all the Empire He was sensible of his ambitious designs and that he aspired to set up his Son Mahomet Emirkin on the Throne of Bengala On the other side he considered 't was dangerous to displease such a powerful Man so that he not only granted him what he demanded but created him also Mir-Vl-Omrag a dignity belonging only to the second Person in the Empire Andas to his Son he made him Bacchis or General of the Horse a place of great consequence but which requires him that possesses never to stir out of the Court. No project could be more effectual for the hindering the designs of Prince Jemlar for by this means he was parted from his Son who could not be separated from his Father under a fairer pretence than by being tyed to the Court by so splendid an Office Jemla well perceived Auren-Zeb's design and being not able to devise a way presently to avoid it yielded to necessity expecting the change of affairs would furnish him with means to have that by force which he could not obtain by subtilty These two great Men were jealous of one another and being in a manner equally powerful they mutually plyed each other with kindnesses whilst both secretly endeavoured to strengthen their parties The year being passed over in Reciprocal dissimulations Auren-Zeb plainly perceived the Emir was not a Man to lye still He judged then 't were better to employ him abroad than to give him time to trouble his Government and therefore proposed to the Emir the undertaking of that great expedition of which this latter had sometime heretofore discoursed to him Which was to march against the Raja or King of Assam whose Countrey lyes Northward off the Kingdom of Deka which is near the Gulf of Bengala 'T is true the Emir had formerly mention'd it to Auren-Zeb who foreseeing the honour which would redound to him from his Conquests objected at first several difficulties but afterwards thought requisit to embrace the motion that he might thereby be rid of the Emir and keep him employed Although the Emir doubted not his design yet he obeyed without hesitating and joyfully prepared himself for an undertaking by which he was sure to establish and encrease his Reputation He imbarked then with his Army on a River whose source arises in that same Country and after about some sixty Leagues Sailing arrived at the Castle of Azo which the Raja of Acham had long since taken from the King of Bengala The Emir attackt this place and took it in fifteen days He afterwards marched towards Chamdara lying near the Country of Assam where within a Month he gave Battel to the King of Assam and worsted him This Prince being vanquished withdrew into his chief City called Guerguon where being followed by the Emir some five days after he secured himself in the Mountains of Lassa and to render his escape more easie left his treasures behind him with which the Emir augmented his These Mountains being unaccessible to an Army the Emir could not follow his Enemy and whilst he studyed how to surprize him the Season of Rains came during which the whole Countrey is overflowed excepting the Villages which stand upon Hills This Season which lasted three Months hindered the Emir's designs the Waters keeping him from marching either backwards or forwards Moreover the Raja had carried away all kinds of Provision and reduced by this means the Emir into a strange extremity This Weather and the incommodiousness of the place having near ruined his whole Army He thought of nothing then but how to get away and in his retreat was ever and anon set upon by his Enemies who taking their advantage enclosed whose Troops in plains full of Mire and slew them Notwithstanding these difficulties the Emir returned home in Triumph laden with glory and spoils His design was to return and finish in the following year the Conquest of this Kingdom which the Castle of Azo which they had caused to be well fortified retained as it were in a Bridle and which was able to hold out a long time against the Forces of the Raja But no sooner was he returned to Bengala but a Dysentery destroyed the rest of his Army and himself also And by this means Auren-Zeb had nothing to fear who as great a dissembler as he was could not forbear expressing his joy thereat He told one day the Son of the Deceased in the presence of his whole Court that he had lost a Father and he for his part a most dreadful friend Having been fifteen Months in the great Mogol's Army our Consul obtained at length our discharge whereupon we parted without Attendants for all our Servants were dead We came in fifteen days to Decka where we saw the Vessel our two Carpenters had built for the General It carried 30 Guns and they had order to begin another far larger From thence we betook our selves to a House of Entertainment for Strangers where we were well accommodated with all things necessary from whence we soon took Shipping for Ongueli Having Sailed about 120 Leagues along the River we made some stay at Cazimabahar a place Famous for Silks From thence we went to Ongueli where the Dutch that Trade to the Indies have a considerable Factory Each of us betook himself to different Employs and mine obliged me so strictly in that Company 's Service that I could not conveniently return to my Native Country till the Year 1673. FINIS Lately Printed A Now Digester or Engine for softning Bones Containing the Description of its Make and Use in these particulars viz. Cookery Voyages at Sea Confectionary making of Drinks Chymistry and Dving With an account of the Price a good big Engine will cost and of the profit it will afford Publisht by Order of the Royal Society By Denis Papin M. D Fellow of the Royal Society Sold by Henry Bonwick at the Red-Lyon in St. Paul's Church-yard
a kind Reception liberally provided for them and after five Days refreshment advised them to go carry the news of their wrack to the Factory As to our selves who came last we minded nothing but rest or rather eating for Night and Day we devoured all that came before us Having been here about five Days we desired the Governour 's permission to go to Bolwa where our companions were gone before us He scrupled at first the matter supposing we were not yet able to endure so long a Voyage but finding us determined he caused three Barks to be made ready one to carry us and the two others for our Convoy The Night following we arrived at Anam a poor and despicable place that afforded not any thing Here we sent back our three Barks and hired another as far as Bolwa At two Leagues distance from this Village our Guides set us on shoar and made us walk on Foot the rest of the way Whilst they went to the Governour to give notice of our arrival we bought Milk and Rice which we drest in a Pot that was lent us by Moors that spake Portugaise It was near ready when our guides came and told us we must come immediately to the Prince who sent for us This news displeased us for we had a Canine Appetite and were not willing to leave to strangers what we so dearly prized We took the Pot then and carried it by turns to the Prince's Palace-Gate where we Eat what was in it before we entred We were afterwards led to the place where our twenty Companions were who parted long before us and within half an hour into a great Hall where our Money was counted to the end we might be satisfied in case we had been Robbed by the way We were at length brought to our Lodging and by the Prince's order served with an excellent kind of Meat called Brensie seen only on great Mens Tables 'T is made of choice Rice a fat Goose and two Pullets squeezed together in a Cloth after about two or three hours boiling To the juyce of which there is added several sorts of spices especially Nutmegs Cloves Saffron Cinamon and Sugar This was such a nourishing Food that in less than three or fours days we recovered again our full strength Yet were not our Stomachs fully satisfied with it for we were more for a less juicy meat such as dry Rice and boiled Fish Five days after we had been here the States of the Kingdom whom the Prince called met before his Palace where as fast as they came we saw 'em take their places and sit down after the manner of the Eastern people When all the Members had taken their places the Prince came out of the Palace invironed with his Guards some with Bows and Arrows others with Sword and Buckler and he seated himself in the same manner as the rest They kept in this posture from Morning till Night and that which they determined was so little secret that an hour after 't was the talk of the common people I desired to know the reason of it and was told that here were no Mysteries of State transacted nothing being done but what came to the publick notice And the reason is that the Prince's Guard consists wholly of Christians which are there in great esteem and although perhaps they are only Christians in name being Negroes born Subjects to the King of Portugal Yet are they counted such brave fellows that they have a particular respect shew'd them and therefore the Grandees of the Court so highly prize their Familiarity that they relate to them whatsoever passes in Council The next Morning the Prince sent us word that we might go when we pleased the Barks being ready This being our earnest desire we parted an hour after and happily Arrived at Decka The Factory received us very kindly We related to 'em our Adventures and they inform'd us that the Ship called the Wesop was cast away near the Isles of Anaans The Governor caused a Bark to be made ready to Transport us to Ongueli where the Dutch have also a considerable Factory But an hour before we parted he receiv'd a Letter from the great Mogols General in which he enjoyned him to send us to him This being an express order we were forced to obey seeing this General threatned in case of refusal to seize upon all the Dutch in his Master's Kingdom and make them Slaves We were forced then to yield and in preparing our selves for a longer Voyage than the first were told that this General named Nabab was a person very fortunate having never lost a Battel nor raised his Siege from any place before he had carried it away that he had taken several Cities defeated whole Armies and made several Kingdoms tributary to the great Mogul These prosperous successes made us imbark with the better courage in following our Guides who were ordered to bring us to the Army We travelled thirty days together sometimes by Land and sometimes by Sea passing by several Cities made desolate the inhabitants of the Countrey being wont in time of War to leave their Houses to follow the Army wheresoever it marches They are a sort of people that are very just in their dealings of an Affable Conversation contenting themselves with few things naturally Enemies to covetousness and ambition yet quarrelsom and injurious but in their greatest heats never mention the Name of the Devil As to oaths they seldom use 'em unless in matters of great concernment and then so strictly observe 'em that no consideration in the World can prevail with them to violate ' em On the thirty fifth day we went on Board one of the Vessels belonging to Nabab where we found four English-men some few Portugaises and two Men of our Company whom we already mentioned From thence we went and cast Anchor near the City of Renguemati from whence within a small time we came and were entertained in the Army of the great Mogol The General whom we saluted in his Tent seemed glad to see us and immediately ordered us a large Cup-full of Arak to drink his health The Cup was so closed that 't was a difficult matter for us to open it and therefore the General gave it us on purpose to divert himself with the humour of it We took it each of us one after another in our hands to no purpose and were ready to give it over when it came into my mind that the Cup being only of Wood might be easily pierced Whereupon I took it again and made a hole in it with the point of my knife Being full to the brim the Arak sprung out abundantly and by this means we all drank of it and used the liberty Nabab had given us in saying We must drink well and fight well This Liquour was so strong that we soon felt the effects of it making us jolly and confident with the General who told us that at six Months end he would send us
were Christians as that they continually kept good Horses and observed good order Our Reputation thus up the Admiral judged us the most fitting persons to take charge of the Artillery For which purpose he made us very advantagious proffers but we liked neither the Country nor Manners of its People and therefore intreated him to pitch upon some others to whom this employ would be more agreeable than to us who were not so well versed in the Tongue as to make our selves obeyed which reason satisfied him Every New Moon is a Festival with the Moors which day begins with the discharge of all the great Guns after which the Soldiers are paid and this payment consists of fifty Roupies or 25 Crowns for every Horse-man some have a hundred paid them others thirty twenty and others again only ten The Foot Soldiers pay is but small being not above five or six Roupies a Month. As to the Slaves who work almost both day and night they have scarcely any thing or that which is given them is so inconsiderable that the greatest part of them dye with hunger These Slaves are Indians who eat nothing endued with lise and their superstition is such that how great soever their hunger may be they choose rather to dye than to eat either Fish or Flesh Their Food consists chiefly of Rice and when they are destitute of it which happens not seldom they dye willingly not doubting but this kind of death procures them Eternal Life These poor Wretches Discourses were continually concerning the contempt of abundance and the excellency of want They could not comprehend how those that live in plenty in this World can be happy in the next and in this imagination take their misery for a mark of their Election The Inhabitants of the Country of Assam are another sort of superstitious people who worship a Cow and consequently never kill any of that kind Their Temples are full of the Images of these Creatures the greatest part made of Gold and Silver and some few of Brass About three Leagues distance from the place where our Vessel lay stood a Temple which we pillaged and carried away one of these Golden Cows which was divided amongst us It was no small grief to these poor Pagans to see their Divinity thus taken from them and yet they sold us Cows at a cheap rate for we did not pay above two shillings for the best What sottishness said I within my self are these people guilty of to sell their Gods 't is true we were forced to promise we would not kill 'em but they knew the contrary and when we blamed their silly humour they demanded of us whether the Christians had none and whether their actions answer'd the Religion they professed Our Vessel lying at a great distance from the Army we knew but one part of what hapned there and although we understood they were in ill circumstances yet we could never have believed there dyed so many thousands of Men had not the River brought them to us The Water became so infected by the prodigious quantity of dead Bodies thrown therein that several persons perished by that means wherefore at length we boyled the Water before we used it After three Months stay the Water having been continually at that height that 't was impossible to come out of our Trenches the Enemy believed we were starved and consequently that we might be easily defeated In truth hunger pressed us very sorely and the greatest part of the Army were forced to kill the Camels and Elephants for their sustenance The Enemy then coming down almost certain of the Victory our General commanded to let them draw near as if the whole Army had been dead and in the mean time made the Horse to fetch a round to hem them in his stratagem took effect for as soon as they began to attack us they were charged by our Horse and wholly defeated leaving near twenty thousand dead in the place There were not above ten Men wounded on our side and since this skirmish the Waters fell insensibly so that we had order to be ready to give battel Whilst we were preparing our General caused several Waggons to be laden with provision and sent them to the King of Assam charging his Messengers to tell him he sent him this present for his supply in case he wanted it For as for his own part he had more than he needed for his Armys subsistance this six Months Our General 's drift was to Allarm the King of Assam who design'd at that time to retire to the Mountains having lost all hope of being able to resist This Prince understood the General 's design and saw well this was a kind of Summons to render himself at discretion but he knew too well his Enemy to expect any favour from him and therefore chose rather to send him word that he loved himself too well to entrust his person with any one but was willing to yield to any reasonable terms This answer discovered the Enemy's weakness and the General who was enraged that he had insulted over him within his Trenches resolved to make him repent it He told his chief Officers then his resolutions to give Battel which they all readily agreed to Amongst others there was one that spake thus My Lord says he to the General when we came into these parts first we had four Armies all in good order and disposition whereas now we have not one that deserves that name The greatest part of the Soldiers of these four Armies being either dead or in a sick and languishing condition Why then do we not immediately march up to the Enemy Shall we tarry till all our forces are spent And will it not be more glorious for our Monarch and honourable for such a Captain as you to go and insult over the Enemy than to lye languishing here where a longer stay cannot but be most shameful The freedom with which this person spake had a good effect for the General resolved to follow his advice in case the King of Assam refused to accept of the following conditions To wit that this Prince should give the General half of his Kingdom and the youngest of his Daughters for his Concubine two thousand Elephants some Millions of ready Money and his richest Vessels full of excellent roots with which that Countrey abounded and which are of inestimable value Although the General 's Army was in very great distress yet his Enemy accepted these conditions and this unexpected Peace came very seasonably for 't is certain that never any Army was in a worse condition As soon as the Waters were sufficiently fall'n we hastned to pack up our Baggage being glad to leave this wretched post for 't is certain we were so tired that had the Enemy set upon us we could scarce been able to make resistance As for riches we wanted them not having found good store in Graves It being this peoples custom to Interr with their Dead their